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Campus security stepped up at CWC this semester

Nov 14, 2013 - By Katie Roenigk, Staff Writer

There has been an increase in security efforts at Central Wyoming College this year, beginning with the hire of campus safety officer Dan Ladd in the ...

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There has been an increase in security efforts at Central Wyoming College this year, beginning with the hire of campus safety officer Dan Ladd in the spring.
"We've been providing more hours of on-site security, basically by me being here Monday through Friday," Ladd told the CWC Board of Trustees.
"I get out of my office as much as I can and walk around."
In his report to the board, Ladd wrote that the campus security department consists of two security officers who patrol the school throughout the week. Two campus safety interns also work with the department during the semester.
"Officers carry cell phones and can be reached 24 hours per day, seven days a week via phone," Ladd said. "(They) are also equipped with two-way radios for communication with local law enforcement."
He added that security signage on patrol cars is more recognizable now.
"It's much more visible than the old Malibu (that) said 'CWC' that big on the door," Ladd said, holding his pointer finger about an inch from his thumb. "It didn't have any markings at all."
Officers
During the evenings and weekends, Ladd said he organizes patrols by off-duty police officers, with a security office set up in the Mote Hall residence building on campus.
"After 10 p.m., housing is the biggest problem," he said.
The off-duty officers wear their uniforms and step into their police roles if law enforcement action is required.
"You have some liquor law violations," Ladd said. "It's college, with college kids. They like to drink sometimes."
In 2012, CWC recorded 28 liquor law violations on school property, with all of the incidents resulting in an arrest. There were 24 alcohol-related arrests at the school in 2011, up from 19 in 2010.
Two arrests in 2012 involved drugs, down from seven in 2011.There were two drug-related arrests in 2010, according to Ladd's report.
One burglary resulted in an arrest in 2012 and 2010.
In 2012, two sex offenses were recorded, but Ladd said the state refused to prosecute either case.
There have been no murders or hate crimes at CWC over the past three years.
Access control
Ladd said the Health and Science Center on campus has been equipped with an upgraded security system.
The new program is web-based, so Ladd and other officers can monitor activity on campus online from any location.
"It's a much more user-friendly system than the old one," Ladd said. "It's easier to navigate, and it works better."
The school's classroom wing and professional-technical building are next in line for the upgrade.
"Hopefully we'll have that new system campus-wide before too long," Ladd said.